NY Islanders place G Semyon Varlamov on IR; activate D Adam Pelech

The New York Islanders have placed goaltender Semyon Varlamov on IR, retroactive to Jan. 2, and activated defenseman Adam Pelech off IR ahead of tonight's game against the Vancouver Canucks at UBS Arena. Varlamov left the game last week against the Avs in the first period after allowing one goal on 12 shots. The 35-year-old took a maintenance day and missed practice last week and then did not dress for the Islanders’ 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena on Dec. 29.

“I’m in the lineup because I’m really 100%,” Varlamov told Newsday before his start in Colorado. “Because if you’re not really 100%, you can’t be in the lineup, that’s the thing.”

He's now not 100%, and Bridgeport goaltender Ken Appleby will remain with the team and backup Ilya Sorokin, who is expected to make his eighth straight appearance tonight.

Pelech appears to be in line to make his first start since Nov. 24 in Ottawa. The apparent wrist injury occurred in the first period when Pelech was hit by Senators forward Drake Batherson when going to retrieve the puck behind the net. With the former All-Star defenseman expected to return, Samuel Bolduc appears to be the odd man out for tonight's game as the seventh defenseman.

Following Pelech's injury, the team claimed Mike Reilly off waivers from the Florida Panthers in addition to acquiring Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues for a seventh-round pick. Bortuzzo is currently on IR after suffering a lower-body injury against Colorado.